THE COVENANT

February 7, 2026

El Roi — The God Who Sees Me

The name El Roi comes from a deeply personal moment in Scripture. It wasn’t spoken by a king or a prophet, but by Hagar — a woman who was mistreated and overlooked. She was a servant with little power, carrying pain she didn’t choose and consequences she didn’t control. In her distress, she ran into the wilderness, alone, tired, and unsure of what would happen next.

And right there, in that place of hurt and uncertainty, God met her. He spoke to her, saw her, and gave her direction for what came next. In response, Hagar called Him El Roi — “the God who sees me” — because she realized that even when no one else truly saw her, God did.

Today I’m sitting with the name El Roi — the God who sees me.

This name comes from a very real place — not comfort, not certainty, not success — but pain. It reminds me that being seen by God is not about being seen at my best, but about being known completely, even in the wilderness spaces of life.

There are moments when I feel unseen. When I’m doing the right thing quietly. When I’m praying faithfully but answers feel slow. When I’m carrying things no one else fully understands.

And El Roi reminds me — God sees it all.
He sees the effort no one notices.
He sees the obedience that costs something.
He sees the tears that fall in private.
He sees the faith I keep choosing, even when it feels heavy.

Scripture confirms this truth:

Hebrews 4:13 (NIV)

“Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account.”

That comforts me deeply.

God’s gaze is not harsh or distant — it is full of compassion. He doesn’t just notice my life from afar; He understands my pain, my motives, my questions, and my limits. He sees me fully and loves me completely.

El Roi is not a distant observer. He is the God who comes close in the wilderness, who calls me by name, and who reminds me that my story is not forgotten. Even when nothing around me seems to change, the fact that He sees me changes how I walk through it.

Today, I want to rest in this truth: I am fully seen, fully known, and fully loved by El Roi — the God who sees me.

Genesis 16:13 NIV

“She gave this name to the Lord who spoke to her: ‘You are the God who sees me,’ for she said, ‘I have now seen the One who sees me.”

Where do you feel unseen, mistreated, or overlooked right now?
What would it mean to believe that God sees you clearly in that very place?
How might your posture, prayers, or expectations shift if you lived today fully aware that El Roi is watching over you with love and care?

As you breathe in, whisper: “You see me.”
As you breathe out, whisper: “You are near.”

Reflection

Closing Prayer

El Roi, the God who sees me,
Thank You for noticing every detail of my life.
When I feel hidden, forgotten, or misunderstood, remind me that I am never out of Your sight.
Help me to rest in Your compassionate gaze,
to walk through my wilderness with the confidence that I am known and loved.
Teach me to see Your nearness in places that feel lonely or uncertain.
Today, I choose to trust that You see me, You know me, and You are with me.
Amen.